#mukkuri

[vanilla-kunikida]

Miku

[vintagepromotions]

Hokkaido travel poster featuring an Ainu musician playing the mukkuri (c.1960).

[lisablack000]

An Ainu woman is playing the Mukkuri (ムックリ), a traditional Ainu mouth harp played by women.

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The Mukkuri is made of carefully cut bamboo with two strings, and measures about 10 by 1.5 cm (3.9 by 0.6 inches). The player vibrates the tongue cut out of the bamboo by pulling one of the strings, while holding the instrument in front of the mouth. Volume and tone colors are changed by changing the shape of the mouth. Although a simple instrument, and similar to mouth harps found all over the world, accomplished players can create truly amazing music with the Mukkuri.

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Ainu music is almost always sacred, as are the instruments themselves which are believed to be imbued with souls. In traditional times, music played an important part in everyday Ainu life. Short simple songs centered on everyday activities and were accompanied by the Mukkuri and the Tonkori, a plucked string instrument. When used as work songs, the music was rhythmic and featured lyrics related to the work that was performed. The songs were not just meant to create a work rhythm, but also acted as prayers and warded off evil spirits.

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In addition to the simple everyday songs, Ainu music features epic songs, called Yukar. They are mythic narratives, usually seen from the viewpoint of the gods. Performed without musical instruments, these epic songs consist of long monologues, with the voice of the singer fluctuating within words. They may be performed in front of the open hearth at a friend’s house, or as part of a religious ceremony. In this case the epic song is outlined by the ceremony’s activities, while at the same time reinforcing the ceremony itself.

The one cannot exist without the other, showing the important and sacred role that music plays in Ainu culture and consciousness.

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For many years, Ainu music was banned by the Japanese authorities. Since the 1960s however, Ainu music has been making a strong comeback as part of an Ainu cultural revival.

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Ainu music was especially performed by women, whose vocal qualities were preferred. Although nowadays the casual observer will have much trouble distinguishing Ainu women from other Japanese women, they traditionally looked very different.

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Ainu lady playing the Mukkuri.

https://youtu.be/uO9uDMB94M0

[amer-ainu]

Forest of Dreams: Art Focus – Portland Japanese Garden

The exhibition Forest of Dreams: Ainu and Native American Woodcarving features the art of Ainu carvers from Hokkaido, Japan, and Native American artists of the Lower Columbia River Basin. Please join us for a set of lectures from the curatorial contributors whose invaluable guidance made this project possible. Co-curator Sachiko Matsuyama, a freelance educator and ...

Ainu Performers from the Ainu Foundation, Sapporo perform upopo during the opening reception for Forest of Dreams: Ainu and Native American Woodcarving, currently exhibited at the Pavilion Gallery and Tanabe Gallery at the Portland Japanese Garden, from June 08, 2019 - July 21, 2019. This exhibition is sponsored by NW Natural; the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians; Don Vallaster, Corinne Oishi, and Lindley Morton.  

[amer-ainu]

[amer-ainu]

I know you're familiar with the tonkori, but do you know about other Ainu instruments like the mukkuri, pararayki, or the kaco?

I’m familiar with the mukkuri, but not with the pararayki or the kaco. I’d love to know more about them!

[romaineyheramendy]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO9uDMB94M0)

[ethnictune]

This bamboo Jew's Harp of the Ainu people of northern Japan (Hokkaido) is very rare. The #mukkuri reed is attached to a string which is pulled sideward, away from the player's head. Soon on https://EthnicTune.com